Bluffton's Vecchio qualifies for NAIA nationals

The 15th-ranked Embry-Riddle (Fla.) men’s cross country team claimed its ninth consecutive team title at the Sun Conference Cross Country Championships on the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s home course Saturday morning.

Junior Vincent Bett cruised to the individual title with a time of 24:57 in the 8K men’s race, leading a pack of Eagles who claimed the top four spots as Embry-Riddle claimed the conference’s lone automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships in Lawrence, Kan. Junior Alec Hernandez (25:08) was second, followed by freshman Paul McKenna (25:12) and senior Zach Kraus (25:14).

Vecchio, Aplund and Riley joined the Embry-Riddle quartet on the All-Sun Conference first team, while Alfen and Scott were joined on the second team by Webber International’s Brennen Schmick, USCB’s Nic O’Neill, and SCAD’s Aesop Brown, Emanuel Krieg and Dillan Brinlee.

Webber International edged SCAD for second place in the team standings with Southeastern in fourth, Warner fifth, Northwood sixth and USCB seventh.

Embry-Riddle’s Mike Rosolino earned Coach of the Year honors, Bett was named Runner of the Year and McKenna was tabbed Newcomer of the Year. Grant Forbis of Southeastern and Embry-Riddle’s Kraus were selected as the Champion of Character award winners.

Embry-Riddle senior Ellie Staker repeated as the individual champion with a time of 17:55 on the 5K women’s course, but SCAD runners claimed three of the next four spots and the Bees placed five in the top 13 overall to claim the league’s automatic berth in the NAIA National Championships.

Host USCB was third in the team standings, followed by Southeastern and Webber International.

Staker claimed one of five individual bids to nationals and will be joined by USCB’s Joyce Miller (18:24) and Melissa Carder (19:06) and Embry-Riddle’s Aleiyah Ross and Martina Tafoya.

Miller finished fourth and Carder was sixth to lead the Sand Sharks. Freshman Jaime Thomas (19:59) was next across the line for USCB in 17th, followed by Melissa Labelle (21:06) in 26th, Meleah Powers (21:15) in 30th, Sarah Turrubiate (21:34) in 34th and Poppy Miller (22:25) in 39th.

SCAD’s Patrick Reagan claimed Coach of the Year honors, while Staker was named the Runner of the Year and Scarpone was tabbed Newcomer of the Year. Cynthia Melendez-Flynn of Southeastern was selected as the conference’s Champion of Character award winner.